Recycling news: 2026

Fresh every day from industry press, GOV.UK and research feeds — plus the historical archive. Last updated 27 Jul 2026.

Industry news LIVE SECTOR REACTIONS: Flexible collections delayed to 2030 The government confirmed yesterday (16 July 2026) that the mandatory collection of plastic films and flexible packaging will be delayed to 1 April 2030. All local authorities in England were expected to start collecting these materials from the kerbside from 31 March 2027 under the Simpler Recycling regulations. Reactions from the industry have varied, with … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Ted Baker plots standalone store comeback after two-year absence Ted Baker is reportedly preparing to reopen standalone stores in the UK as the fashion brand steps up its return to physical retail. It is expected to open its first new standalone shop later this year, with owner Authentic Brands Group indicating that the launch will take place “very soon”. A location has not yet... Retail Gazette · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news The future of charity waste management: Key insights from our charity engagement day - Biffa Biffa · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Energy drinks ban for under-16s set for April introduction It will become illegal to sell energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16 across all retailers, including online, in shops, restaurants and café The Grocer — sustainability · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Geehy completes Megain acquisition Geehy International has completed its acquisition of a controlling stake in Hong Kong-listed printer chip developer Megain Holding, triggering a mandatory cash offer for the remaining shares. The Recycler (imaging consumables recycling) · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news British Business Bank backs medtech fund with £21m commitment The British Business Bank (BBB) has committed €25m (£21.26m) to EQT Life Sciences’ Health Economics 3 Fund (EQT HE3) to support scaling medical technology and digital health companies. The investment is aimed at driving innovation across Europe and encouraging greater capital flow into the UK’s high-potential life sciences sector, one of the eight key growth […] UKTN (UK Tech News) · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Luxury Kitchen Designs Crafted for Exceptional Living - IKEA IKEA UK newsroom · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Selfridges Birmingham to stock Ozzy Osbourne fragrance in retail first Czech & Speake has announced that it is expanding the distribution of its No.88 Prince of Darkness Limited Edition through a new partnership with Selfridges Birmingham. The tie-up marks the first time the fragrance, created in tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, will be available in a physical store. Previously sold exclusively through Czech &... Retail Gazette · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Mattress & pillow protectors, size 160x200 cm - IKEA IKEA UK newsroom · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Coca-Cola's Fairlife halts US production following ransomware incident The Coca-Cola Company has confirmed that production at its Fairlife dairy business in the US has been temporarily suspended. FoodBev Media · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Biomethane in the Clean Flexibility Roadmap: a window that will not stay open Biomethane in the Clean Flexibility Road Map: a window that will not stay open The government’s Clean Flexibility Roadmap 2026 Update, published this month by DESNZ, Ofgem and NESO, is primarily a document about batteries, interconnectors and smart meters. But tucked into Chapter 4 – alongside hydrogen-to-power and power carbon capture — is something the… ADBA (Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association) · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Greenpeace UK appoints Kathryn Tomlinson as new board chair Greenpeace UK has appointed Kathryn Tomlinson as the new chair of its board of directors. Kathryn, who is the Deputy Secretary General at Amnesty International, brings many years of director-level experience in international development and human rights to the role. Before joining Amnesty, she held high-profile posts at International Alert, the global peace-building organisation, and […] Greenpeace UK · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Andy Burnham to pledge to put the UK on a 'new path' Prime Minister-in-waiting to be officially confirmed as Labour leader, as speculation mounts over his policy plans BusinessGreen · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Commission hid information of environmental impact on mining projects, EU watchdog finds - ClientEarth ClientEarth · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Modernising cocoa processing: Inside Cargill’s York facility FoodBev Media’s Rafaela Sousa visited Cargill’s cocoa processing facility in York, UK, to see how the company is combining the city’s long chocolate-making heritage with automation, digital monitoring and AI. FoodBev Media · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news The EU tightens controls on Listeria, presents the food industry with new challenges Hiperbaric, a leading Spanish company in high-pressure technology, has released the report – 'New European regulation on zero Listeria and its impact on food for human consumption'. FoodBev Media · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Cotton bathroom textiles - IKEA IKEA UK newsroom · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Burberry sales rise 5% as turnaround shows signs of success Burberry sales increased five per cent in its first quarter as chief executive Joshua Schulman’s turnaround strategy continued to gain momentum. Revenue climbed from £433m to £455m during the 13 weeks to 27 June, while comparable store sales rose five per cent , reversing a one per cent decline the previous year. Burberry recorded growth... Retail Gazette · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Toyota Material Handling Celebrates 70 Years of Counterbalance Forklift Innovation Seven decades of quality, reliability and innovation in materials handling Toyota Material Handling UK is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its counterbalance forklift truck, marking seven decades of engineering excellence that have helped shape the global materials handling industry. Since the introduction of Toyota Material Handling’s first forklift truck, the LA model, in 1956, they have b… MEM Magazine (Manufacturing & Engineering) · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news FAENIX Launches European Energy Storage Platform Faenix has been established as a new company focused on the commercialisation of energy storage systems and the activities supporting the integrated Teverola–Brindisi industrial platform. Founded by FIB, part of the Seri Industrial Group, and Eni Industrial Evolution, the company is owned 70% by FIB and 30% by Eni Industrial Evolution. Its responsibilities will include… BEST Magazine (Batteries & Energy Storage Technology) · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Tesco and Cancer Research UK commemorate 25-year partnership Cancer Research UK and Tesco are celebrating £75m raised to support the charity over its 25-year partnership. Beginning in 2001, colleagues and customers at Tesco have backed the charity through… Grocery Gazette · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Frasers blames Labour for £10m increase in employment costs Frasers Group has revealed that increases to the minimum wage and employer National Insurance added an alleged £10m to its costs last year. The Sports Direct owner said the changes drove a £9.7m increase in operating expenses across its Premium Lifestyle division, which includes Flannels, House of Fraser, Jack Wills and Sofa.com. Profit from trading... Retail Gazette · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Poland’s Defense Rise Starts Here: Meet the Supply Chain of Tomorrow The Defence Manufacturing and Materials Expo comes to Katowice for the very first time on 28th and 29th April 2027. This event is where industrial capacity meets industrial demand, uniting defence manufacturers, materials suppliers, component producers, and procurement leaders. No better nation better represents the future of European defence than Poland – a nation that plans to build the stron… MEM Magazine (Manufacturing & Engineering) · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news New York choked by wildfire smoke ahead of World Cup Final A cloud hangs over the World Cup Final which takes place this weekend. It is not the metaphorical fog of England’s absence from the event, but a literal one, caused by wildfires in Canada. New York City has activated emergency air quality measures after smoke from major wildfires in western Ontario drifted into the region, […] Air Quality News · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Heineken Costa Rica agrees to acquire RainForest Water Heineken Costa Rica has signed an agreement to acquire RainForest Water, a Costa Rican premium artesian water brand, through its subsidiary Distribuidora La Florida. FoodBev Media · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Shein’s £37bn IPO valuation under pressure as EU crackdown knocks growth Shein could be forced to accept a lower valuation for its long-awaited Hong Kong float as new European import charges weigh on sales and profits. The online fashion giant is targeting a valuation of between £30bn and £37bn, less than half the approximately £74bn price tag it secured during a 2022 funding round. However, some... Retail Gazette · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Ocado boss Tim Steiner denies he will be ‘puppet master’ after CEO exit Ocado co-founder Tim Steiner has insisted he will not seek to control the business from behind the scenes when he steps down as chief executive. Steiner is due to leave the top job in 2028 before moving into a founder role for a further year, during which he will provide strategic guidance and support to... Retail Gazette · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news 2025 - British Retail Consortium British Retail Consortium news · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Vodafone settles high street legal battle with 62 former franchisees Vodafone has settled a long-running High Court claim brought by 62 former franchise partners over the operation of its UK high street stores. The agreement brings the 19-month dispute to an end before it reached trial. Its financial terms will remain confidential and Vodafone has made no admission of liability. The former store owners had... Retail Gazette · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news UN report outlines how blue economies can become sustainable The document shows the ways in which maritime and freshwater ecosystems can transition to cope with climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Billions of people and around $2.2 trillion dollars of GDP are reliant on so-called blue economies tied to water sources and the ocean. Published by the United Nations and co-authored by researchers at […] Environment Journal · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Retail Sales Associate at IKEA - IKEA IKEA UK newsroom · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Sustainable cooling, 30x30 plans, and the Tories' net zero purge - BusinessGreen BusinessGreen — waste topic · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Freegle Mobile app - wiki.ilovefreegle.org Freegle · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Konica Minolta divides SAFEQ Cloud New Breeze and Pro platforms target SMEs and complex enterprise environments. The Recycler (imaging consumables recycling) · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Shell’s Aarhus biogas plant completes 18-month upgrade - Bioenergy Insight Magazine Bioenergy Insight · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Aldi launches hiring spree for 450 store roles amid expansion drive Aldi is recruiting more than 450 store assistants as it presses ahead with its UK expansion plans. The entry-level roles form part of Aldi’s continued investment in its store estate, with around 40 new locations set to open this year under a £370m expansion programme. Applicants do not need any formal qualifications, although the supermarket... Retail Gazette · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news New research reveals significant opportunity to revitalise high streets through expanded healthcare services - boots-uk.com Boots UK media centre · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Morrisons names Maz Ahmed as convenience and wholesale boss Morrisons has appointed Maz Ahmed as managing director of convenience and wholesale. Ahmed succeeds Matthew Heslop, who left his role as group wholesale and convenience director in February. He will oversee the continued growth of Morrisons’ convenience division, including plans to open hundreds more franchised Morrisons Daily stores over the coming years. The new boss... Retail Gazette · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Invercargill Prison switches on world-leading pellet boiler system - Bioenergy Insight Magazine Bioenergy Insight · 17 Jul 2026 Industry news Sharp expands accounts using ZoomInfo AI-assisted prospecting helps Sharp cross-sell managed IT, audiovisual and document services. The Recycler (imaging consumables recycling) · 17 Jul 2026